How do 2,000 builders turn into 50,000 protesters?

Builders are taking a headcount of their office staff, contractors and even labourers to meet the target of 50,000 protesters for their one-day strike at Azad Maidan against the government’s delay in passing proposals on May 3.

The Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry — Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (MCHI-CREDAI) is striking against the system, not any authority, according to President Paras Gundecha.

“During a meeting held last week, the MCHI-CREDAI set a target of 50,000 protesters for the strike. In totality, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) doesn’t have even 2,000 builders. We plan to take our office staff members, contractors and even labourers,” said a builder who attended the meeting, on condition of anonymity.

Gundecha added, “Everyone affected by the system should support us.” He said only 10 per cent of proposals were passed last year.

Builders will speak about the condition in other states, such as Bihar, where proposals are passed within10-15 days. “And here, we are forced to go on a strike, as no plans have been passed in the last one-and-half years.”

Not all builders in the city will join in, however. Anand Gupta, Treasurer, Builders Association of India, said, “We are already on a forced strike since October 2010, as no projects have been passed.”

CREDAI is also planning an all-India strike outside the Parliament, Delhi. “All the units of the association have been asked to collect funds for the success of the strike,” said President Arvind Goel, MCHI-CREDAI, Navi Mumbai.